With Rafa Benitez confirmed as new manager of Italian side Napoli, Sportsmail writer and Chelsea fan Charlie Skillen looks back on his controversial interim spell in charge at Stamford Bridge.

That's over then. As Rafa Benitez is confirmed as Napoli manager, one of the most turbulent periods in the rollercoaster ride that is the recent history of Chelsea Football Club has come to an end.

I've got to say, I'm relieved. Yes, third place and the Europa League was a good return for a difficult season, and the team is looking in good shape.

It's more that supporting the club for much of this season felt like a constant battle, and for the first time I genuinely was not looking forward to watching the team home or away.

Match made in hell: Rafa Benitez's controversial reign at Chelsea has come to an end

For all the bright moments to come out of the last few weeks - good performances, Champions League qualification sewn up and a great night in Amsterdam - it's easy to forget the truly abysmal displays that were the norm up until last month.

Benitez, a desperately unpopular figure at Stamford Bridge even before his 'reign,' angered and bewildered in equal measure with terrible performances, bizarre selections and substitutions allowing a large selection of the league's poorest sides - and Brentford - to get results.

He was the figurehead for what was - and is - desperately wrong with the club at large - a man installed by faceless, unaccountable middle-men like Michael Emanelo and Bruce Buck completely at odds with the fans' wishes.

Silverware: Benitez managed the team to a second European trophy on the trot by winning the Europa League

I - nor any Chelsea fan I know - never truly thought Roberto Di Matteo was the man to take us forward long-term.

But for the club to sack him, a decorated former player and fresh from winning the Champions League on that glorious night in Munich, when they did was ludicrous.

To put it a horrible, non-football way - but fitting considering how they see the club - why would any company completely alienate 99.9 per cent of it's customer base?

Benitez - rightly or wrongly - bore the brunt of anger towards that, and Chelsea fans can hardly be accused of being fickle. Even when results picked up, anti-Benitez chants and banners were still heard and seen at every game.

Ousted: Benitez replaced the hugely popular Roberto Di Matteo, who won the Champions League (below)

Unlike many thought, it was never about some off-hand comments years ago about plastic flags or Frank Lampard, just the fact that he was intensely disliked for many reasons during his time at Anfield and those feelings were made perfectly clear on the far-too-many occasions when the Chelsea manager's post has been vacant.

His appointment was the nadir of a slide - save for a, let's face it, completely out-of-the-blue Champions League win - the club has been on since the ridiculously stupid and classless sacking of Carlo Ancelotti.

Benitez didn't help himself. Criticising supporters that travelled to Middlesbrough for a midweek FA Cup tie, marginalising fans' favourite John Terry and completely failing to back Branislav Ivanovic when bitten by Luis Suarez against Benitez's former club Liverpool were among other issues to raise anger at various points.

Failed: Benitez did not come out in support of Branislav Ivanovic when he was bitten by Liverpool's Luis Suarez

One can only imagine the storm if that happened to one of Jose Mourinho's players.

Then again, results in the last few weeks of the season have been good, and many by the Europa League win had mellowed - even tolerated - his presence.

The reception he got among the 9,800 fans in Amsterdam when he recieved the trophy summed up the feelings towards the end - a smattering of boos, even fewer offering applause, and the overwhelming majority completely ignoring him.

So I'm left with a feeling of
ambivalence. I certainly don't wish him well, and I honestly don't care
how Napoli do next season, any more than I did this.

Frankly, I'm just pleased he won't be on the touchline next season, and Chelsea matches will be far better experiences for it.